Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-05

'sMay be you'd like me to help you? Kin
be Of any assistance to you Miss!" said he in
mimicking voice, with diabolical grin.
He threw his arm about her. His dirty
tattered sleeve chafed her delicate neck She
ives enraged, and exclaimed:
"How dare your
He gave a short laugh.
lDare! Come, that's good. Dare! Is
there anything man will do or can do, that
| wouldn't dare? Do look like that's"
Brownie was plucky creature for all. In
her fierce anger at him for touching her, she
forgot her prudence. She struck him in the
face with all her might One of the rings
upon her hand cut his lip till the blood
flowed. 1t enraged him and yet amused him.
HCome, hand it over" said he. "Tll help
you. Lively's the word"
He stripped it off her finger. Then she
made as if to go. He seized her arm again.
eNot SO fast, my red birdl / want to look
at you close to. How would you like to be
married to me, Miss"
| She shuddered and he laughed.
aEf had my rights, I'd be gentleman,
and as good as you. Eff I'd had the raisin'
| I'd "a been the biggest mob Of 'em all Whose
wife would you "a been then? Miss Brownie
you'd "a been my wife"
She shuddered again
| II see: you'd sooner touch dead cat nor
me- most wish could kill you I'd do it
with good will, if could"
She gave scream of terror.
HNever fear, my red Bird" said Rip. Sim
not going to. Twas going to. But can t.
You've got enough gold and swag about you
/ ~. e,,aYr ilya ma I mo nj
to take that, too. But l can't touch it. l
don't know why don't, but don't. Only
this ring the Englishman put on your finger
That you'll never sec again"
He stopped and struck his heel into the
earth, enraged Then he seemed to cool down
again. @
"No, Miss Brownie, I can't hurt you, and
you may thank your stars for it. You go
| free for all me. But some time, when you
are rich and happy and married to the Eng
lishman, curse him!-I say think of this day
in the woods. Remember that Rip, the
tramp, might have robbed you, might have
murdered you and worse, but did not Why?
Because, Miss Brownie, he loved you, loved
YOU even better than the Englishman did"
CHAPTER XIX.
/ THEY MET ONCE MORE.
There was one who had heard Brownies
1 cr-. Black Sam was crossing the woods
toward home. Sam was past 70 now, and
bent and feeble, but he ran up valiantly when
he heard the shrek. He saw Rips hand laid
upon Brownie. He thought she was being
| murdered.
He had an ak on his shoulder. Old as he
was. he would have cleft the tramps skull in
moment, but the fellow saw the descending
ak and caught it. He let the girl so and
laid hold of the negro.
"Run, Miss Brownie" cried old Sam.
Brownie was still wild with terror. Sht
was an unreasoning creature at best. Sht
gave in to the moments impulse, and ran a.
Sam told her.
i The tramp tried to shake of the negro.
.Let me goln he muttered, in rage lie
me 20, or III murder you.
| But Sam chung about him with hamper
ing hold, and kept him back. 1t reused al
the fury in him. He doubled his fist, ant
gave Sam stunning blow. The black maj
fell like stone and lay still.
aThere -" said the tramp.
i Two men met Brownie as she ran. N
sooner did she catch sight Of one OF these tw'
than she flung her arms around his neck u